Develop and Pitch Your Story Concept

Time: ~1 hour to develop concepts, plus 5 minutes for each pitch and feedback

Step 1: Goal

Ask yourself “What do you want to accomplish with your media project?”

I want my media to: ____________________________________

Step 2: Audience

Picture your audience in your mind. Don’t think of them as a faceless crowd of people. Think of someone you know, who can represent the larger audience you want your media to reach.

My target audience…

• Thinks…
• Feels…
• Dreams…
• Doesn’t realize…
• Has never…
• What else do you know about the audience you want your video to reach?

Step 3: Brainstorm

Use these questions and tools to brainstorm about your story.

Mind Map

Make a list or a mind map of all of the elements that come to mind when thinking of your topic. It doesn’t matter if these elements make it to the final product or not. Allow yourself to freely brainstorm all aspects of your topic. There are no wrong answers. Write down EVERYTHING.

Audience Experience

Complete the following sentences:

I want the audience to see…

___________________________________________________

I want the audience to hear…

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I want the audience to feel…

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Describe the world you want the audience to inhabit while viewing your media:

___________________________________________________

After viewing my media I want the audience to feel…

___________________________________________________

Objects and Characters

Is there a character or characters that can act as the focal point of the story? Who are we watching, learning from or emotionally connected to throughout this story?

• If this is a narrative video, who are we following from experience to experience?
• If this is a documentary, who is knowledgeable about this topic and able to inform us?
• How will your audience be a character in the video? Who will they see and interact with throughout the video?

Your characters do not have to be people — a main character can also be an object! What is it like to be a forgotten condiment at the back of a fridge, or a stoplight in the middle of a busy neighborhood?

Location

Where will your story take place? You have an opportunity to create the world your audience will inhabit. Especially with 360° video, think about visually interesting places that will draw your audience in.

• Is this place real?
• Is this place make believe?
• Is this a place you have been before?

Describe the location(s) as thoroughly as you can. My story will take place in:

___________________________________________________

Step 4: Logline

Create your “logline” by putting everything you have developed together into 1-3 sentences. It should include:

• Who or what the story is about
• What the audience will learn
• What the audience will experience
• Where the story will take place
• Why this story is important

For example:

 This project is about the local Community Pool and the conditions that make it unsafe for youth to use. We will follow a 9-year-old on a tour of the space and point out the slippery surfaces, unfinished walls and other safety issues that must be addressed. Our goal is to encourage adults in the community to make the pool a fun and safe place for everyone.

My logline:

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

Step 5: Outline

Create an outline of your entire media project. It should include:

• An Introduction that establishes the world the audience will inhabit and the characters we will follow. What is the first image you want the audience to see, which will bring the audience into the world of your story?
• Each topic that will be covered. This can be done in 3 Acts or main points, but feel free to structure your story however you feel is best.
• A Conclusion that wraps up your story and leaves the audience with the final information, feelings or action steps you would like them to walk away with.

Pitch your story idea!

Once you have developed an idea for your media it is important that you share it with people who can support your project. Your goal during a project pitch is to give the audience a clear idea of what your ideas your project will cover, and what your project will look like and sound like.

The “logline” that you created in Step 4 above is a great start for your pitch because it should describe the main idea of the project, what the audience will experience, and the goal of your media. Along with the logline, make sure you explain who you are and what role you will play in the project, as well as the title of your project.

Tips:

• Your pitch should be short! In writing, it should be no more than 1-2 paragraphs, and it should take less than a minute to present in person. Keep in mind that your pitch should assume that the listener knows nothing about your project.
• Read your pitch aloud several times. Does it give the audience an idea of your project topic, and how it will look and sound? Refine your pitch and read over and over until you feel comfortable delivering it. Feel free to get creative in developing and presenting your pitch and HAVE FUN!

Finally, present your pitch in front of your classmates and ask for feedback on your story idea, as well as your delivery of the pitch itself.

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